The Buzz
The latest news in the grocery biz
A new 31,425-sq.ft. Metro Plus store opened mid-March in Prévost, Que.
Sunterra Market opened a two-level, 20,000-sq.-ft. store in Red Deer, Alta.
OPENINGS
Courtice, Ont. (east of Toronto) is home to a brand new 34,000-sq.-ft. Food Basics location. FOOD BASICS, one of Metro’s discount banners, currently operates 139 stores across Ontario. And in Prévost, Que., a new 31,425-sq.-ft. METRO PLUS was opened in mid-March
by the Thibeault family, which operates five Metro stores in the Laurentian region. SAVE-ON-FOODS has expanded its presence in Winnipeg with the addition of two new stores, giving it a total of five locations in the city. The two new stores, located at Pembina Crossing and Kildonan Place, provide a “full traditional grocery offering.” B.C.-based Save-On-Foods opened its first three Winnipeg stores in late 2016. FARM BOY opened its 38th location at Toronto’s Harbourfront in early May. Located in the Queen’s Quay Terminal, the store is Farm Boy’s fourth downtown Toronto location. The fast-growing, Empire-owned chain says it will open another four locations before the end of the year.
AWARDS/RECOGNITION INTRODUCING CANADIAN GROCER’S IMPACT AWARDS. We know Canada’s grocery industry is filled with examples of companies and individuals making a positive impact; now, we’re asking you to shout about these efforts. We’ve launched the Canadian Grocer Impact Awards to recognize initiatives introduced by retailers, suppliers and solution providers that are making a meaningful difference in a range of areas: sustainability; diversity, equity & inclusion; supporting employees; and community service/local impact/ giving back. There’s also an Individual Impact Award to honour those individuals within an organization going above and beyond to make an impact in the areas listed above. Tell us about the great work being done at your company! There is no fee to nominate and honourees will be featured in Canadian Grocer this fall. Visit cgimpactawards.ca before July 15, 2021 to nominate. 6 CANADIAN GROCER || May 2021
News to share? Tell us about your openings, comings and goings, etc. by dropping a line to sfitzgerald@ ensembleiq.com
SUNTERRA, METRO
SUNTERRA MARKET has opened its ninth store in Red Deer, Alta. The two-level, 20,000-sq.-ft. store is a new build located at Bower Place. The Alberta-based retailer’s other locations are in Calgary and Edmonton, and Sunterra president Greg Price told Canadian Grocer: “Any time we open a store, it’s not really a cookie-cutter process for us—we try to customize the offering to the space and community.” At the Red Deer location, he said, there is “a significant focus on prepared foods and staple grocery items as well. But, as we see consumers shift to more fresh foods, the fresh offerings are dominant in the store.”
